Charges laid in alleged Toronto-area ISIS terror cell targeting women, Jews
Man's alleged links to ISIS were uncovered after two attempted abductions of women
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Dec 19, 2025 • Last updated 13 hours ago • 3 minute read
Walled Khan, 26, Osman Azizov, 18, and Fahad Sadaat, 19, are charged in connection with two attempted kidnappings and an alleged ISIS GTA terror plot targeting the city's Jewish community
From left, Walled Khan, 26, Osman Azizov, 18, and Fahad Sadaat, 19, are charged in connection with two attempted kidnappings.
An investigation into the attempted abductions of women led police to charge one of the three accused with alleged terror offences.
In a joint video statement released Friday, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw, Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah and RCMP Assistant Commissioner Matt Peggs announced the results of Project Neopolitan — a probe into terror allegations that stemmed from an investigation into two violent attacks over the summer, uncovering an Islamic State-linked terror plot targeting women and members of the GTA Jewish community.
“The investigation identified alleged offences motivated in part by hate-motivated extremism with potential links to terrorism,” Demkiw said in the statement.
Information from the investigation, Demkiw said, was shared with the RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET), which conducted a parallel terror-related investigation.
Accused of attempted kidnappings
The investigation began when detectives linked two attempted kidnappings earlier this year.
On May 31, three armed men attempted to abduct a woman near Don Mills Rd. and Rochefort Dr., just south of Eglinton Ave. E., but were interrupted by a passing motorist.
A little under a month later, on June 24, two women were chased by three men armed with a knife, rifle and handgun in the area of Ellesboro Dr. and Swanhurst Blvd. in Streetsville, near Queen. St. N. and Britannia Rd. W. — again the would-be abductors were thwarted by a passerby.
Reports at the time indicated the men fled in a light-coloured Audi SUV.
Connecting the two incidents, Peel police identified the three suspects and executed search warrants at their Toronto residences, allegedly seizing firearms, ammunition and high-capacity magazines.
Walled Khan, 26, Osman Azizov, 18 and Fahad Sadaat, 19 are charged in connection with two attempted kidnappings and an alleged ISIS GTA terror plot targeting the city's Jewish community
Waleed Khan, 26, Osman Azizov, 18, and Fahad Sadaat, 19, are charged in connection with two attempted kidnappings and an alleged ISIS GTA terror plot targeting the city’s Jewish community Photo by Police handout
Investigation uncovered links to ISIS terror plot
The three accused — 26-year-old Waleed Khan, 19-year-old Fahad Sadaat and 18-year-old Osman Azizov, all of Toronto — were arrested over the summer in connection with the two attempted kidnappings.
The three men face 79 separate charges, including auto theft, disguise with intent, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, sexual assault and firearms charges.
Police sources told the Toronto Sun that Sadaat and Khan are currently in custody while Azizov remains free on bail.
Other evidence was found, Duraiappah said, that expanded the investigation into one motivated by hate — specifically targeting women and the GTA Jewish community.
“We located evidence confirming involvement in national security related threats,” he alleged.
That prompted the involvement of the RCMP, the evidence of which, Peggs said, was of “significant concern.”
“From the outset, public safety was treated as your highest priority,” he said.
Khan is also accused of providing funding to a terror group — identified by the RCMP as ISIS, participating in a terrorist group by providing property meant to be used in an terror attack, making himself available to commit terrorist acts outside of Canada, and conspiracy to commit murder at the direction of a terrorist group.
Further information on the case is subject to a publication ban.
“This case demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that those who threaten the safety of communities in Canada will be held accountable,” Peggs said.
Premier Doug Ford thanked all three police forces for their work apprehending the suspects.
“All those responsible need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Ford shared on social media Friday evening.
Terror attack in Canada ‘imminent,’ observers warn
Friday’s charges come less than a week after a father-and-son team, allegedly operating on behalf of ISIS, opened fire at a Hannukah celebration on Australia’s Bondi Beach south of Sydney.
That attack set of alarm bells across Canada, with former diplomats, security experts and even Israel’s deputy foreign minister warning that officials and police tolerance of anti-Israel extremism will almost assuredly lead to a similar attack being carried out here.
“If the government doesn’t do something to stop this rise in antisemitism, if the (Canadian) government continues its rhetoric in either rewarding terrorist organizations like Hamas and buying into Hamas propaganda, it will result in blood in Canada as well,” Israeli Cabinet Minister Sharren Haskell, who was born in Toronto, told the Toronto Sun earlier this week.
Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA,) said they’re grateful to law enforcement for making the arrests.
“As we saw in Sydney, we are one intelligence failure away from a devastating loss of life,” he said.
“A lack of urgency on the part of our leaders puts Canadians in danger,” Shack said. “We urge authorities to take decisive measures to hold extremists accountable for radicalizing Canadians and setting the stage for mass violence right here in our country.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
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A probe into the attempted abductions of women led police to charge one of the three accused with alleged terror offences. Read more.
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